Acetylene generator



ACETYLENE GE ERATOR FIGJ.

Filed Jan. 8, 1940 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 INVENTOR. E ER H.VAN VALKENBURG ATTORNEYS April 7,1942.

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1940 so "L as 3e 39 [7 FIGZ. 35

-la-,. 70 3| 0 B 43 24 as i 2 is 64 i l2 E 45 i ea 6? 1 44 42 o 59 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 SEER H.VAN VALKENBURG ATTORNEYS V Ap '1. 1942- E. H.VA-.VALKENBURG 2,278,955

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.4

Ill l Him INV EN TOR.

BY E ER HNA" VALKENBURG ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 7, 1942 ACETYLENE GENERATOR Eber H. Van Valkenburg, Highland Park, Mich., assignor to Century Engineering Company, Center Line, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application January 8, 1940, Serial No. 313,009

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to acetylene generators and refers more particularly to those in which the generation of acetylene gas is accomplished merely by bringing together calcium carbide and water.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a generator of this type that is suited to the requirements of any shop, plant or factory which uses acetylene and that may be used in conjunction with any suitable acetylene equipment.

Another object is to provide a generator that is always ready for use, that creates no delay or inconvenience, that demands no attention except to refill the same, and that requires practically no adjusting. 7

Another object is to provide a generator that is free of complicated locking mechanism and nuts and bolts to be unfastened, and that is so constructed that the entire head thereof including the control mechanism may be removed readily and quickly from the main tank when a refilling is necessary.

Another object is to provide a generator that is constructed in such a way that the essential working parts and the interior of the main tank thereof are exposed for inspection and cleaning purposes when the head aforesaid is removed. There are no hidden recesses or corners to make cleaning and refilling difiicult.

Another object is to provide a generator that is equipped with an improved form of safety relief valve, an effective water seal flash-back arrester, and efficient means for controlling the feed of carbide from the head to the main tank.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a generator em- 'bodying my invention;

lief valve with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the handle-cam assembly;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a detail view of the valve-diaphragm assembly; Figure 12 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View through the neck IQ of the head B.

' Referring now to the drawings, A is the main tank, B is the removable head, C is the carbide feed control mechanism, D is the water seal flash-back arrester, and vE is the safety relief valve of a generator embodying my invention.

As shown, the tank A has a substantially cylindrical body l0 and a substantially frusto-conical neck or dome portion H. Preferably the neck II is formed separately from and is rigidly secured to the body H] at its upper end. A tubular base l2 for engagement with the ground or floor is sleeved upon and rigid with the body Ill at its lower end, while an interiorly threaded collar I2 is located within and rigid with the open upper end of the neck ll. 13 is an opening for water, and I4 is a threaded plug normally closing said opening. I5 is a handle pivotally connected to the body I!) adjacent the neck portion ll. Preferably two such handles are employed at diametrically opposite sides of the body to facilitate movement of the tank or complete generator.

The head B has two sections l6 and I1, re-v control mechanism C.

Preferably the lower section [6 of the head has a substantially cylindrical body I 8 and a substantially frusto-conical neck I9. Handles 20 are provided at substantially diametrically opposite sides of the body l8 intermediate its ends to facilitate movement of the head B relative to the tank A, and a lateral flange 2| is provided at the upper end of said body for supporting a pressure control diaphragm 22 and the upper section ll. The neck I9 is preferably formed separately from and is rigid with the body l8 at its lower end and is provided at one side with an opening 23 for carbide and 'a threaded'plug 24 fornormally closing said opening. The restricted lower end 25 of the neck is open and extends into the open upper end of the neck II p of the tank. Preferably an exteriorly threaded collar 26 is rigid with the neck 19 of the head and normally engages the interiorly threaded collar I2 rigid with the neck ll of the tank.

The upper section ll of the head is substantially frusto-conical in configuration and is provided at its flared lower end with a lateral flange 21 that rests upon the diaphragm 22. Any sultable means such as the bolts 23 and nuts 29 may be used to secure the flanges 2i and 21 and intermediate diaphragm 22 together. The restricted open upper end 30 of the upper section ll is in vertical alignment with the open lower end 25 of the lower section and is preferably in the form of an interiorly threaded tube.

The carbide feed control mechanism C is carried by the head B. As shown, Si is a valve movable in the open lower end 25' of the head and engageable with a suitable seat 32 fixed to the neck IQ of said head at its lower end. 33 is a sectional rod connected to the valve 3| and extending upwardly through the tubular upper end 39 of the head. The pressure controlled diaphragm 22 extends between and is rigid with the sections 34 and 35 of the rod. 35 is a sleeve type adjusting nut threadedly engaging the tubular portion 3|] of the head. Bl is a lever actuated cam carried by the rod 33 at its upper end and engageable with a washer 38 on the upper end of the adjusting nut 36. 3 isa set screw threadedly engaging the tubular portion 30 of the head and engageable with the nut 86 to hold the latter in adjusted position. li is a coil spring sleeved on the rod 33 between the diaphragm 22 and adjusting nut 35.

Preferably the valve 3| is provided at its upper and lower ends with valve elements M and 52', respectively, and is' provided between said elements with vertically extending webs 43. As shown, the lower" valve element 42 is in the form of an annulus sleeved upon the stem. 4 3 of the valve between a clamping nut 45 and the base of a substantially conical body 46 integral with the webs 43 and stem 44-. Preferably this valve element 4-2 has an inclined upper surface 4'! that constitutes an extension of the conical surface of the body 46 and that is adapted, when the valve 3| is raised'by' the cam 31, to engage the: underside 32' of the valve seat at the lower end of the neck I9 of the head B to shut off the supply of carbide from the head B to the tank A. The upper valve element 4| is substantially frusto-conical in configuration and is integral' with and serves as a hood for the webs 63. Theupper end of this valve element is mounted on the lower end of the rod 33', while the flared lower end of said element ii is adapt ed, if the diaphragm 22 should break, to engage the upper side til of the valve seat 32 carried by the neck la of the head B adjacent its lower end to shut 01f the supply of carbide from the head B to the tank A.

The water seal flash-back arrester D is carried by the tank A and serves as a safety device to prevent any flame flashing back to the tank A and as a cleanser for the gas generated. As shown, 513 is a substantially frusto-conical water jacket encircling and mounted on the neck H of the tank A. is a water inlet in one side of the jacket and normally closed by a plug 52, and 53 is a drain opening in the bottom 54 of the jacket and normally closed by a plug 55. 56 is ast'and pipe for conducting the gas generated in the tank A to the water jacket El), and 51' is a ball check valve at the joint between said pipe and; jacket. As shown, this pipe 56 inclines downwardly from a point adjacent the collar l2 at the upper end of the neck H of the tank A to a point just below the lower end of said neck, then extends outwardly through a side wall of the body iii of the tank and thence upwardly to the ball check valve housing 53 suspended from the bottom 5d of the water jacket. The ball check valve 51 prevents the escape of water in the jacket and further assists in preventing any flash-back of flame from reaching the tank A. Preferably the upper end 01" the stand pipe 56 is closed, and an opening 59 is provided in one side thereof near its upper end for receiving the gas from the tank A.

Located adjacent the upper end of the jacket 50 at a point substantially diametrically opposite the check valve housing 53 is the outlet til for the gas, while projecting laterally from said outlet is a drier 6| for the gas and a gas supply cook 62.

The safety relief valve is mounted on the water jacket 50 adjacent its upper endv and has a sectional casing 63 provided with an inlet 64 and an outlet 65' for the gas. Preferably a diaphragm $6 is clamped between the sections 6'! and 5B of the casing, and both the inlet 64' and outlet 65- are in the section El below said diaphragm. $9 is a valve normally closing the outlet 65, ll] is a rod having portions above and below and secured to the diaphragm 63, 1| is an adjusting nut sleeved on the rod Hi and threadedly engaging the upper section 58 of the casing, and i2 is a coil spring sleeved on the rod ll) between the diaphragm B6 and the adjusting nut 'H. 13 is a set screw threadedly engaging the upper section 68 of the casing and engageable, with the nut H to hold the latter in adjusted position.

When the generator is not in use, the valve 3| is drawn up by the rod 33 and cam 31 so that the valve element 42 firmly engages its seat 32 and thus cuts off the supply of carbide from the head B to the tank A. This is accomplished by moving the lever Bl! so that the cam 31 will assume the position illustrated in Figure 2. When the parts are in this position, the generator may be moved about or loaded onto a truck as desired. Likewise, when the valve 3| is closed as described, the generator may be re-charged.

By means of the handles 20 the head 13 may be easily and quickly unscrewed from the tank A. Upon turning the head. B upside down and removing the plug 24, the lower section of the head may be filled with carbide. When the head is removed as described, the feed valve 3| is fully accessible and can be cleaned if necessary.

Normally the tank A is filled with water to the water level line X. This may be accomplished by supplying water to the tank through the feed opening l3 when the plug I4 is removed or through the open top of the tank when the head B is removed. The jacket 50 is filled with water to the water level line Z. This may be done by supplying water to the jacket 50 through the feedv opening 5| when the plug 52 is removed.

When the parts are assembled and filled as described, the lever may be moved from the position illustrated in Figure 2 to the position illustrated in Figure 3 to release the cam 31 so that the spring 40 will move downwardly the rod 33 and thereby unseat the valve element 42. Carbide may then pass downwardly from the head B past the webs 43 and lower valve element 42 of the valveinto the water in the tank A. In this connection it will be noted that the conical.

surface of the body portion 46 of the valve will preclude carbide particles from collecting on the valve. The gas generated in the tank A by bringing together the carbide and water as described will flow downwardly through the stand pipe 56 past the check valve 51 into the jacket 50 where it is washed by thewater in the jacket. Due to the location at substantially diametrically opposite sides of the jacket of the inlet 58 and outlet 60 for the gas, it will be apparent that the gas will move from the inlet spirally upward through the water in the jacket to the outlet 60 and drier 6!. While making this spiral or half circle movement from one side to the other of the jacket, the condensation or excess moisture will fall from the gas to the water in the jacket 50 before the gas reaches the outlet 60. Preferably goat or cattle hair is used in the drier 6| to remove moisture from the gas before it passes to the gas supply cock 62.

The safety valve E is preferably set to open instantly at fifteen (15) pounds pressure and to close completely when the pressure decreases to fourteen (14) pounds. Thus, when the pressure of gas in the lower section 61 of the casing 63 reaches fifteen (15) pounds, the diaphragm 66 will raise the valve 69 from its seat and permit gas to escape through the outlet 65. When the pressure decreases to fourteen (14) pounds, the spring 12 will again seat the valve 69.

While gas is being generated as described the cam 31 is released, hence the valve 3| is subject to the action of the diaphragm 22. and the spring 40. As a result, the action of the valve is automatic. For example, the spring 40 tends to keep the lower valve element 42 unseated so carbide can pass from the head B into the tank A, while the diaphragm 22 serves to seat the valve element 42 and shut off the supply of carbide when the; full pressure has been reached. When the gas cock B2 is opened, the pressure will be decreased accordingly in the tank A, hence the spring M will again unseat the valve 42 to allow more carbide to pass into the tank A. Thus, the

position of the feed valve 3!, when in operation,

varies according to the quantity of gas being used in a given period of time. The greater the quantity of gas being used, the longer the valve remains open. Should the diaphragm break or otherwise become inoperative, then the spring 40 would automatically move the upper valve element M downwardly against its seat so as to shut off the supply of carbide from the head B to the tank A. When it is desired to discontinue the generation of gas as described, the lever 80 may be moved from the position illustrated in Figure 3 back to the position illustrated in Figure 2 to cause the cam 31 to raise and hold the valve element 42 against its seat 32 and thus cut off the supply of carbide to the tank.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A generator of the class described having a gas generating chamber provided with a frustoconical dome portion, a substantially frusto-conical water jacket mounted on said dome portion and provided at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof with an inlet and an outlet for gas, and means for conducting gas from the dome portion of said chamber to the inlet of said jacket.

2. In a generator of the class described, a Water tank in which gas may be generated, and a water seal flash-back arrester including a water jacket encircling the tank and provided at the bottom thereof with a gas inlet, and a stand pipe for conducting the gas generated in the tank to said inlet, said pipe extending downwardly from a point adjacent the upper end of the tank to said inlet.

3. In a generator of the class described, a water tank in which gas may be generated, and a water seal flash-back arrester including a water jacket encircling the tank and provided at the bottom thereof with a gas inlet, a stand pipe for conducting the gas generated in the tank to said inlet, said pipe extending downwardly from a point adjacent the upper end of the tank to said inlet, and a check valve at the juncture of the pipe and jacket preventing escape of water from the jacket and preventing any flashback of flame in the jacket from reaching the tank. 7

4. In a generator of the class described, a water tank in which gas may be generated, and a water seal flash-back arrester including a Water jacket encircling the tank and provided at the bottom thereof with a gas inlet, and a stand pipe for conducting the gas generated in the tank to said inlet, said pipe extending downwardly from a point adjacent the upper end of the tank to said inlet, the upper end of the pipe be ing closed, one side of the pipe adjacent the closed end thereof having an inlet therein for gas from the tank.

5. In a generator of the class described, a water tank in which gas may be generated, and a water seal flash-back arrester including a water jacket encircling the tank and provided at the bottom thereof with a gas inlet, and a stand pipe for conducting the gas generated in the tank to said inlet, said pipe extending downwardly from a point adjacent the upper end of the tank to said inlet, said jacket being provided with a gas outlet adjacent the top thereof at a point substantially diametrically opposite the inlet so that the gas must travel diagonally or spirally upward at least half way around the jacket before leaving the same.

6. In a generator of the class described, a water tank in which gas may be generated, and a water seal flash-back arrester including a water jacket encircling the tank and provided at the bottom thereof with a gas inlet, and a stand pipe for conducting the gas generated in the tank to said inlet, said pipe extending downwardly from a point adjacent the upper end of the tank to said inlet, said jacket being provided with a gas outlet adjacent the top thereof at a point substantially diametrically opposite the inlet so that the gas must travel diagonally or spirally upward at least half way around the jacket before leaving the same, a drier for the gas projecting laterally from said outlet, and a gas supply cock at the outer end of said drier.

'7. In a generator of the class described, a carbide container having substantially aligned openings at its upper and lower ends, a valve controlling the lower opening, a sleeve-type adjusting nut threadedly engaging the walls of the upper opening, an actuating rod for the valve extending upwardly through said sleeve, a washer on the upper end of the adjusting nut, and a leveractuated cam carried by the rod and engageable with said washer.

8. A generator of the class described having a gas generating chamber provided with a dome portion, an annular water jacket encircling and substantially equal in depth to the dome portion of said chamber, the jacket being provided at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof with an inlet and an outlet for gas, the inlet being near the bottom of the jacket and the outlet being adjacent the top thereof, and means for conducting gas from the dome portion of the chamber to the gas inlet of said jacket.

9. A generator of the class described having a gas generating chamber provided with a dome portion, an annular water jacket encircling and substantially equal in depth to the dome portion of said chamber, said jacket being provided at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof with an inlet and an outlet for gas, the inlet being near the bottom of the jacket and the out-.

let being adjacent the top thereof, a conduit for conducting gas from the dome portion of the chamber to the gas inlet of said jacket, and a check valve in said conduit for preventing the escape of water from t h'ejacket and for preventing flame flashing back into the chamber.

10. A generator of the class described having a gas generating chamber provided with a dome portion, an annular water jacket encircling and substantially equal in depth to the dome portion of said chamber, said jacket being providedat substantially diametrically opposite points thereof with an inlet'and an outlet for gas, the inlet being near the bottom of the jacket and the outlet being adjacent the top thereof, and a drier for the gas connected to said outlet.

11. A generator of the class described having a gas generating chamber provided with a dome portion, an annular Water jacket encircling and substantially equal in depth to the dome portion of said chamber, said jacket being provided at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof with an inlet and an outlet for gas, the inlet being near the bottom of the jacket and the outlet being adjacent the top thereof, and a safety relief valve connected to said jacket adjacent the top thereof intermediate the inlet and outlet for EBER H. VAN VALKENBURG. 

